Tagged: Analects

Analects of the Core: Homer on the father figure

Friend, let me put it in the plainest way. My mother says I am his son; I know not surely.  Who has known his own engendering? I wish at least I had some happy man as father, growing old in his house– but unknown death and silence are the fate of him that, since you […]

Analects of the Core: The Old Testament on dust

For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. – Genesis 3:19

Analects of the Core: Ferry on living happily

Humans are born, they live, then they die, this is the order that the gods have decreed. But until the end comes, enjoy your life, spend it in happiness, not despair. Savor your food, make each of your days a delight, bathe and anoint yourself, wear bright clothes that are sparkling clean, let music and […]

Analects of the Core: Plato on musical innovation

The newest song which the singers have, they will be afraid that he may be praising, not new songs, but a new kind of song; and this ought not to be praised, or conceived to be the meaning of the poet; for any musical innovation is full of danger to the whole State, and ought […]

Analects of the Core: Shakespeare on journeys’ ends

Journeys end in lovers meeting, Every wise man’s son doth know. – Shakespeare, Twelfth Night (II, iii, 44-45)

Analects of the Core: Dante on abandoning hope

Through me the way into the suffering city, Through me the way to eternal pain, Through me the way that runs among the lost. Justice urged on my high artificer; My Maker was divine authority, The highest wisdom, and the primal love. Before me nothing but eternal things Were made, and I endure eternally. Abandon […]

Analects of the Core: John on the Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And […]

Analects of the Core: Dawkins on determinism

It’s an important point to realize that the genetic programming of our lives is not fully deterministic. It is statistical — it is in any animal merely statistical — not deterministic. Even if you are in some sense a determinist — and philosophically speaking many of us may be — that doesn’t mean we have […]

Analects of the Core: Dostoyevsky on sarcasm

Sarcasm: the last refuge of modest and chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and intrusively invaded. – Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground

Analects of the Core: Burke on delight in the misfortune of others

I am convinced we have a degree of delight, and that no small one, in the real misfortunes and pains of others; for let the affection be what it will in appearance, if it does not make us shun such objects, if on the contrary it induces us to approach them, if it makes us […]